"How did it all begin?" A pony named Sensei asked.
As the fire crackled in the dark, sparks flying up in the air, I drew my breath in. After we had defeated the camp leader, we made a fire. I guess it's time they learned the truth about the war.
"It all began after Tirek was defeated by Twilight. He was soon brought to an Equestrian prison. The prison was along the edge of a town called Old Phillydelphia. A forgotten land that was taken over by Tirek's army in the war between Twilight and Tirek. It was only taken back by the ponies months after the war."
"Wait!" A pony yelled from the other side of the fire. His voice was sharp and thick, I was taken back by it. "So did he have any followers?" One more pony came and sat down.
I started back up. "Followers of the forgotten leader were angry at Twilight, but they were equally pissed at Equestria and its leader, the Sun Goddess, Celestia. They began to hold riots. Ponies began to turn against their own kind, committing treason, getting angry. With each riot they got more and more violent. They would hold ponies hostage and demand payments, they would kill the hostages anyways."
I drew my breath. "Anything else you want to know?"
"Yeah," a pony from my right began. "What was in it for the followers? Why did they even follow him?"
It took me a couple more minutes to respond. "The followers agreed with the message that Tierk gave. They thought life with a leader like Tirek would be better then with a leader like Celestia. The message was, I promise you the freedom to do what you want. Nobody, pony, Griffin, or dragon, will be turned away in a time of need. I promise you a better life then whatever that swine Celestia brings."
"Now how did they fight back?" Sensei asked again.
"Eventually, they began to create their own army, Tirek's Lords. With each day that passed, they were not destroyed. They grew stronger and stronger. Eventually, they had enough power to were they could rival the power of Celestia's royal guard. Battles would get closer and closer to being lost by the royal guard." I finally thought I was done, so I drew in a deep breath.
"You said they were angry, why?" One pony spoke up.
"They didn't like the fact that Celestia almost killed him. They thought he would provide a better life. So they got pissed when she took him into custody. They soon grew a hatred for the goddess. They soon planned to attack Canterlot and remove the princess once and for all."
"Weapons were being manufactured as his follower's army grew the attention of businesses. They could defend themselves with other things then sticks and stones. Soon, riots turned into battles and they were at war. The army would not be satisfied until they found where their leader was being held. Now that's, why it all started."
The war all began with one event, and that event, was held in the Canterlot castle.
2300 Hours, The Day Of Darkness
I stood as the main guard, protecting Celestia. My armor, weapon, and and stature indicated that. After waiting for a good five minutes, allowing chatter between the ponies. The two doors leading to the throne room, burst open. All eyes, that included Celestia, the other five guards, some ponies sitting in the rows of seats, and figure in the corner. Their eyes locked on the pair that entered, all except for mine. The pony that was being held by the other one, was badly bruised. Their uniform lay in little but rags, with chains binding their hooves.
The grew very silent with anticipation. It had seemed as though the world outside had stopped entirely for this court case. The room was huge, but very empty.
"Who's that?" One of the guards next to me asked. He sounded as enthusiastic as a child on Christmas morning, eager to open gifts.
I kept my composure, "One of Tirek's spies. Captured after the battle, he was trying to gain pony Intel on where Tirek was and how to get him out. Of course, after we learned of the old location being swarmed with spies, we moved the pest."
The guard drew a surprised breath, Tirek had lost the battle, and if he came back surely he would lose again. "So, where are the other spies?"
"Already into custody. This one is not from the direct swarm after the battle. We caught this one snooping around the courtyard this morning. It look likes they're scouting, planing to launch an all out assault on Canterlot and Ponyville."
He bit his lip, "But they can't win without a powerhouse like Tirek, right?"
I glanced over at Celestia, who was in no rush to begin the trial. "I think you're forgetting, Tirek only gained his power with his silver tongue. It took a matter of time for his true power to come through, so it would a long time for Terik to be battle ready again."
The guard asked me one more thing, "What do you think Celestia's gonna do with the sorry lot?"
I peered over and saw the prisoner being jerked about. "Make an example of him I suppose. Put him in jail, hang him, or banish him from the country. Left to fend for himself. One of the three will get the point across." There was much chatter about in the crowd.
A giant bang went off in the distance, and the sound of clock bells could be heard, it was 11:30, time to begin. "You may all be seated." Celestia raised her hoof and all the ponies in the room complied. The sound of chains break sounded, as the shackles were taken off of the spy.
"Mr. Bright, you are charged with reason against the pony army, people, and the country itself. If you have a lawyer I suggest you present them now." A figure came running out of the corner, dressed in a black suit, with a suitcase at his side.
"I will be speaking on behalf of my client." The pony nodded as he set his briefcase down. The spy nodded in enjoyment. "My client was brought here under the assumption that if he did agree to do the crime presented here— we know he would lose as all the evidence points against him." A pony in the crowd snickered. "That, the sentence that would be normally brought to him, would be shortened by about ten years." The lawyer did make a pretty convincing case.
Celestia folded her hooves into themselves, "That is correct. But the minimum, THE MINIMUM, sentence for treason is still 40 years. Even without the extra ten years you are looking at at least a 60 year sentence. Mr. Bright would be ready for parole again in 20 years." Celestia stopped and sipped her water, "So, the tides are put against you, are you sure, that you want your client rotting in a cell for the 60 years of his life? Or do you want another punishment instead."
The lawyer got a puzzled look on his face, "We are willing to hear this punishment."
"Good, I advise you take this. If you will agree to being out at the stake and whipped, beaten, and we can get a hoof written letter from your commander, we shall drop all allegations against you, Mr. Bright."
"Excuse my language princess, but are you shitting me? There's no way we will agree to this type of quote, unquote punishment."
"It is not up to me, you can decide with your client and get back to me. By the time I am back I want an answer. Weather you make that decision for yourself is up to you." Celestia stood up, and stormed out the back door.
It took around a solid ten minutes for them to come up with a choice. In the mean time the other guard and me chatted again. "I don't like this. The pony, Mr. Bright, is too quiet for my liking. Something bad is going on here and I can feel it."
"Are you sure of that?" The guard asked me.
"Of course I am, wh—" I was moving my head to left when it caught my attention. A figure standing on top of a building in the dark. A light flashed from him. "What the hell... excuse me I have to take of something." The guards I was commanding, seemed to be alarmed by what is said. "You are in charge of this squad while I am gone, understand?" The guard next to me nodded in cooperation.
I began walking down the courtroom to the doors. I caught the spy give me a smirk before he turned serious. I also caught looks from ponies as I passed by. The looks were curious and everyone wondered, "Where is that guard going?" But no pony said it. It was as silent as a funeral.
I pushed the doors open, the cool air catching my mane. I took of my helmet and put my sword in its sheathe. My wings extended from the holes in my glistening armor. I pushed my backs hooves off of the door and entered the sky. The moon's light guided my way. Every now and then, I caught the figure standing or lying down.
I flew across the buildings. Few ponies were out during the night, and the ones that were, belonged to convenience stores or large time businesses that stayed open 24 hours a day. The few lights that were actually on, illuminated the streets below but provided me no help. I finally realized the figure was in the ONLY district with no power, clever.
Back at the castle the case was in full swing. All ponies were talking about what they thought was the best option for the spy. Of course, they didn't know the nature or the seriousness of these crimes, so they had no way of actually judging the pony; that might explain why here was no jury for the case.
I eventually got up to the building where I thought the figure was. Although, when I got there, I saw a case, a light, and what appeared to be a suppressor. "Am I losing it?" I said a loud. The lights below flickered, trying to come back to life, only to die out again. I walked over to the edge of the building. I stared over the edge and saw a pony walking the streets. "Hello?" I yelled down, no response.
"Do you know anything about what's going on tonight? Sir or madam?" Once again, no response. I reached for my sword and felt nothing but the cool touch of my armor. "The hell!?" I whipped around and saw nobody around me. A figure danced around the buildings below but nothing that really made me think they had my weapon.
I turned slowly around and stared around the edge of the building. The lights were all but dead, and the pony below was nowhere to be found. I felt the back edge of a gun pierced the back of my neck. My hairs Immediately stood up, but somehow, I kept my cool.
"He has no idea what's going on, but I do." The voice was very raspy and hoarse. My legs turned to water, and I turned around. Suddenly, I felt the back of the gun pierce my neck and I fell down. A hot pain enveloped me and I soon saw nothing, but darkness.
I woke up, struggling to speak, but nothing came out. I soon realized a gag was strapped over my mouth, as my back and front hooves were tied. My vision seemed like it was nothing but a black tunnel.
"You were not too smart to look for me, Thorn." I twisted my head around trying to see who it was talking to me. I couldn't get anybody in my tunnel vision. Suddenly, the all too familiar felling of a gun being pointed at my head came back. "Now you are gonna watch, while your princess dies."